Night of Despair-Chapter 167 - : Harsh Conditions

Chapter 167: Harsh Conditions

“`html

As Yu Hong’s consciousness took control,

quickly, the black line flowed out and entered the purifier.

The questioning voice of the Black Mark rang out, and he promptly confirmed it.

Sss…

A countdown emerged.

...

“3 days 8 hours 09 minutes.”

Three days?

Yu Hong sighed in relief.

Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.

*”Not bad, it’s acceptable.”*

He coughed softly, let go of the handle, went up to the first floor, and found a breathing valve helmet to wear, using the valve to help him breathe.

After a while, his coughing noticeably lessened.

*”It’s indeed the air that’s problematic…”*

Having confirmed the enhancement time for the air purifier, according to previous judgments, the fact that the Black Mark could enhance it meant this problem could be solved.

Yu Hong decided to exit the cave and went to the inner courtyard.

In the inner courtyard, everyone was no longer active outside and had all entered the new stone castle to work inside.

The massive stone castle blocked the light from the cave, but Yu Hong didn’t mind, as there was hardly any light now, with only a little bit of sunshine each day, which was indifferent.

He came to the wooden door of the stone castle.

The stone castle door was round, like a plug, very thick and secure.

Knock knock knock.

He knocked on the door.

The wooden door was pushed open from the inside, revealing Old Zhou’s face wearing a breathing valve.

“Boss, I was just thinking about when to find you,” Zhou Xueguang said with some surprise.

“I’m here to inform everyone that the air purifier is seeing progress. It should be operational in about three days to improve everyone’s air. We should finalize the last passage,” Yu Hong said solemnly, “the one linking the lab to the stone castle.”

With only one air purifier, he didn’t intend to enhance multiple machines. Sharing the purified air was the most economical use, especially now that it was necessary to quickly enhance the camp’s array.

Zhou Xueguang nodded, unhesitatingly affirming,

“That won’t be a problem. We’re ready to start anytime.”

“That’s good. Now let’s talk about your business. What did you want to discuss with me?” Yu Hong asked.

“I…,” Zhou Xueguang hesitated, lowered his head, and sighed. “Boss, I’ve talked with Old Li and the others. The camp can’t be without luminous stones, so I hope to go out and check other luminous stone mining locations.”

“….” Yu Hong frowned, scrutinizing him closely.

After a few seconds of silence, he slowly spoke.

“You were one of those who escaped from the front lines. You know what it’s like out there, and there’s a real chance you might not come back. So, are you sure?”

Searching for other luminous stone mines was an idea he had considered too, but only if the Black Mark’s enhancement of the array’s effect was unsatisfactory.

He hadn’t expected Old Zhou and the others to also be discussing it, let alone deciding to explore. *This surprised him.*

Zhou Xueguang said helplessly, “The truth is… there’s also partly a personal reason… I want to visit my hometown and see my family…”

Yu Hong immediately understood.

“I remember when I first met you, you said only those who survive have the right to think about other things. So, have you made up your mind?”

At that time, on the highway, he had saved Old Zhou from Du Chengtao, a fully enhanced human. Not much time had passed. It seemed that seeing Li Rushan return thriving from a trip stirred something in his heart.

“Boss, you’ve never asked about my family’s situation, have you?” Zhou Xueguang said.

“Mm… come out to talk,” Yu Hong sighed. From Old Zhou’s eyes, he saw that the latter had considered it for a long time before making this decision.

The two of them left the entrance of the stone castle and went to one side of the wall, leaning against the tall, thick rock wall to stand.

Yu Hong felt the relentless effort of the black lizards, continuously driving away and killing the approaching shadows, before looking at the deeply troubled Old Zhou.

“Here is fine,” he said.

“Mm….” Zhou Xueguang nodded, resting his back against the stone wall decorated with Concealing Symbols and luminous stone talismans.

“I have two children, twins, and they’re eight years old this year. My wife and mother are taking care of them. Before I went to the front line, they were settled near our local big Hope City as military family members, but later, when the front line collapsed, I’m not sure how they are now…”

He paused, “I want… to go back and see. While searching for other luminous stone mines, just along the way…”

He seemed afraid that Yu Hong would disagree, so he mentioned the luminous stone mines first, with a hint of caution in his tone.

“Go then,” Yu Hong said calmly. “I have no reason to stop you. Hand over the matters at the camp properly, and if there’s no problem, just drive out. Just remember that the sunlight is getting shorter, leaving little time for solar charging, which might require more time to return.”

“Boss….” Zhou Xueguang was a bit surprised. He had been prepared to present more reasons, not expecting Yu Hong to agree so easily.

“When are you leaving?” Yu Hong asked.

“As soon as possible.”

“…. Is it because of the air?”

“Mm…. partly, and also because of the luminous stones.” Old Zhou nodded.

Yu Hong fell silent.

*The air was getting worse, the luminous stone mines were depleting, the sunlight was shortening… all these steps marked the world decaying further.*

*Hope was diminishing, becoming increasingly dim.*

Under immense pressure, perhaps Old Zhou had long been ready to face death, or maybe he just wanted to fulfill his only regret—to see his family, in the end.

Even Yu Hong was speechless at this moment.

For even with the Black Mark, he couldn’t be sure he would survive this calamity.

After all, the Black Disaster was not just Level Nine… there were even higher War Level terrors.

The camp now was simply too small to attract those high-level Black Disasters.

Once, if they accidentally crossed paths with a high-level Black Disaster passing by, before the camp matured,

one careless step, and he, along with everyone in the camp, could die.

After agreeing with Old Zhou, he quickly packed his things, bringing along equipment, firearms, tools, resources, and enough boiled water. He handed over the camp’s situation to Old Li.

Originally, he intended to finish the linking passage before leaving, but Yu Hong waved him off to leave quickly.

Building the passage, an extra hand like Old Zhou’s wasn’t of much help anyway.

The next morning,

under Li Rushan’s father and daughter’s watch, Zhou Xueguang drove away from the camp, following the forest path Yu Hong had just cleared, heading outwards.

All over the car’s exterior were new Concealing Symbols, something Yu Hong had strengthened overnight for him. These symbols covered the whole car, substantially reducing its presence. Along with the electric car’s naturally low sound, safety was significantly increased.

Besides, he also promised that if Zhou Xueguang found his family, he was allowed to bring them back to the camp.

At the outer courtyard barrier, Ding Shao and Doctor Xu also watched the car leave.

“Wish him a safe journey,” Ding Shao said softly.

Doctor Xu didn’t speak, simply caressing her growing belly, within which, hiding beneath clothing, a blurry human face had quietly emerged.

The face’s lips moved, also watching the direction of the departing car. Soon, it turned slightly to Yu Hong’s direction, lingered for a few seconds, and then slowly faded, returning to the belly’s depths.

Both of them were completely unaware of this.

*

*

*

Several dozen kilometers away from Black Wind Camp, in an abandoned small village,

the rare large sun broke through the fog and shone upon the village’s sole open space.

The stone-paved open space currently hosted a burly, large military transport vehicle.

The vehicle was draped in camouflage, with light machine guns mounted on both sides, and layers of patched luminous stone blankets covered the surroundings.

From afar, it resembled a worn-out vehicle wearing raggedy, patched black clothes.

Inside the vehicle, Xue Ningning and her group were dumbfounded, watching the recently returned Stammering Yiyi.

This short, five-foot-tall figure was piled with items up to six feet.

She had a tall, large canvas bag strapped to her back, seven or eight big bags hanging in front, a paint bucket in her left hand, and a large bucket of water in her right.

Additionally, she had a large bundle of rope-tied bulletproof vests on her head, with weapons and a helmet hanging from either side.

“…” Xue Ningning looked at Lin Yiyi, who had squeezed into the vehicle, momentarily pointing speechlessly at her.

“Lin Yiyi, did you go on a looting spree?” Ou Li blurted out what everyone wanted to say.

“Yu… Hong, force…, stuff… me, I don’t want, still forced… hang… hang on me, up!” Lin Yiyi, through the breathing valve, spoke in a muffled voice, her face full of helplessness.

Everyone in the vehicle was silent.

“Hehe… your friend is doing well, huh…” Ou Li laughed dryly, “So much stuff still shoved onto you, really nice.”

Xue Ningning and Fang Shijun exchanged glances, understanding that in times like these, someone willing to vehemently load Stammering Yiyi with so many things was undoubtedly a true friend to her.

Without a doubt, having such a friend was something anyone would fiercely envy.

Especially when that friend was a capable individual.

Looking at these supplies, it was clear this Yu Hong was no simple character. Those bundles of bulletproof vests had bloodstains, and those food supplies; such excellent items weren’t something an ordinary person could casually give away.

The group fell silent for a moment, quickly elevating the importance of Stammering Yiyi in their minds once again.

If before they were kind to her because she’d saved everyone, now, besides that gratitude, it seemed there was another layer of regard for her.

“Come… share, with everyone!” Stammering Yiyi didn’t know what they were thinking. She was mentally challenged; she could understand simple things, but not complicated ones.

“Okay, let me inventory it,” Chen Qiaosheng coughed twice, stepped forward, and said softly.

That’s about all he could help with, some manageable chores.

As he began checking the items, while occasionally asking Stammering Yiyi for corresponding information, gradually, the other people inside the vehicle began to be astonished again….

“Sunshine Paint!?? And enhanced Sunshine Paint!? So much in one bucket!?” Xue Ningning pressed a hand to the paint bucket, utterly incredulous.

Other than military research institutes, how did anyone manage to get Sunshine Paint materials from a base in the wild these days!?! And it’s enhanced!?!!

What kind of mythical story is this!?

Even less prestigious research institutions can’t easily obtain this, barely qualifying for the old model is already rare.

Now, Stammering Yiyi told them these were Yu Hong’s self-researched and modified formulas….

Is it fake?

That was the first thought Xue Ningning and others had.

But even if it were fake, the rest of it…

The few looked at the items Stammering Yiyi laid on the vehicle floor.

Enhanced detectors, a large bundle of bulletproof vests, nutritional paste meat jerky, and drinkable water, alongside things resembling grenades, called Radiation Hand Grenades.

There were also other miscellaneous drugs, tools, luminous stone boards, and so on.

“Yu Hong even wanted to, to give, give me, such a big, large bundle…” she gestured with a very large motion, “I… didn’t take.”

She panted.

“Couldn’t carry, really, couldn’t carry, anymore.”

She wiped sweat from her brow, sighing.

“…..” Everyone.

Is this the equivalent of a humblebrag?